Full of tradition, humor and matchmaking, 'Fiddler on the Roof' still delights: Review

Like an old friend with a new wardrobe and dance moves and a few forgotten jokes, "Fiddler on the Roof" has returned to Louisville kicking off the 2022-23 PNC Broadway in Louisville series.

Since 1964, the musical about a Jewish milkman clinging to tradition in Tsarist Russia has charmed audiences with its humor, heart and iconic music. The national touring company of "Fiddler on the Roof" last performed here in 2012.

Leslie Broecker, president of Broadway Across America Midwest, said "Fiddler" is the "fastest long show you'll ever see" because the audience is carried along by one great musical number after the next.

And she isn't wrong. It's a safe bet that the majority of the audience seated in The Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall for Tuesday's opening performance of "Fiddler" could hum along to at least half of the show's famous repertoire.

From the onset, the family's patriarch Tevye, played by Jonathan Hashmonay, set the stage for struggles to come as he launched into the show's prologue, "Tradition." Tevye's reverence for the rituals of his village is soon matched by an equally popular song performed by three of his five daughters.

As Tzeitel (Randa Meierhenry,) Hodel (Graceann Kontak) and Chava (Yardén Barr) sing "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," the young women bring into question the established tradition of arranged marriage.

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You can see where this is all leading. Nearing the end of act one, traditions are being cast aside for the sake of love and a kind-hearted father and mother.

"Sunrise, Sunset" sung by Tevye and his wife Golde, played by Maite Uzal, helps brings act one to a close as the couple marvels at how quickly time has passed and their children are old enough to be married when they don't feel any older themselves.

These are sentiments as true today as they were nearly 60 years ago when "Fiddler on the Roof" first opened on Broadway. Where the story deviates is how it is perceived in 2022. The current touring production is based on the 2015 Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof" directed by multi-Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

"There are two sides to the theater. There is making new work and new stories and there is going back into our past and revisiting great pieces," Sher previously told the Courier Journal. "The starting point whenever you do an interpretation of a great previous text like 'Fiddler' is to look for some kind of immediate significance right now."

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When Sher's production of “Fiddler on the Roof” opened on Broadway in 2015, the Syrian refugee crisis had begun. Under Sher's direction, the show opens with a descendant of Tevye dressed in a modern red parka. As the fiddler plays, Tevye removes the red jacket to reveal the clothing of a villager. He pulls on the cloth cap of a villager and explains he is going back to the ancestral village of Anatevka to tell the story of the refugee journey of his family.

"With the crisis in Syria as the backdrop, we were able to update the original story of a family being forced from their home in Russia. It's how we made the show relevant to the times," said Sher. "And now in 2022, the refugee crisis is still relevant to the production, with the migration and displacement of people due to the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, and famine across the world."

(Hashmonay closed the curtain call of Tuesday's opening night performance by dedicating the "Fiddler" production to those displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine.)

While the revival may be freshened up to reflect current times, the roots of the story, the musical numbers ("If I Were a Rich Man," "To Life"), and its high-energy dance numbers are still very much at its core. As he did expertly with revivals of "The King and I" and "South Pacific," Sher understands the importance of preserving what audiences love about a show like "Fiddler on the Roof."

The sets are enchanting, enhanced by plays of light giving the staging depth and atmosphere. The costumes and choreography feel contemporary and rich, especially "Tevye's Dream," during which cast members are dressed in nightmarish costumes reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands and Mother Ginger from "The Nutcracker Ballet."

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The entire production is punctuated with dance by Christopher Evans, recreated by acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter.

The revived "Fiddler on the Roof" has evolved over time but remains true to its core. At its heart are the universal themes of generational conflict, the tensions between holding fast and letting go, and the timeless traditions that define faith, family and love. Themes resonated with audiences in 1964 and are just as relevant today.

Reach Features Reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

PNC Broadway in Louisville 'Fiddler on the Roof'

WHAT: First staged on Broadway in 1964, "Fiddler on the Roof"  is the Tony Award-winning show featuring the classics, "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "To Life." A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family.

WHEN: now through Oct. 23

WHERE: Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.

TICKETS: $47-$134. Available by calling 502-584-7777 or online at kentuckyperformingarts.org and ticketmaster.com.

MORE INFORMATION: kentuckyperfomingarts.org

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 'Fiddler on the Roof' Louisville review: It's full of tradition, humor